Such planers are generally known.

In such planers the shavings removal channel comprises a part which extends in tangential direction and connects onto a part extending in axial direction of the planer knife roller. In most planers the motor is placed behind the planer knife roller. The connection of a tangential part of the channel to an axial part entails a change in direction of the airflow with the shavings entrained therein, which reduces the effectiveness of the shavings removal. Due to the change in direction the shavings will after all drop out of the airflow more easily and block the channel.

Another drawback of this prior art configuration is that a removal hose or a collection container for shavings is placed on the side of the planer. This obstructs the view of the workpiece.

The object of the present invention is to provide such a planer wherein the chance of blockage of the channel is greatly reduced.

This object is achieved in that the shavings removal channel extends over its whole path with a directional component in the direction of movement of the planer. This configuration also provides the option of placing the removal means for the shavings at the rear so that they do not

obstruct the view of the workpiece.

This measure has the consequence that the airflow which entrains the shavings is not subject to changes in direction, or hardly so, so that blockage is considerably reduced.

According to a first embodiment, the housing is provided with a handgrip extending substantially in the direction of movement, and the shavings removal channel extends through the handgrip.

This embodiment obviates the problem of the motor usually blocking a direct route of the removal channel by guiding the channel over the motor, and even over the housing, through the handgrip. The configuration of the handgrip herein provides the option of applying a bend with a large radius of curvature, so that the influence of the inertia of the shavings is small and the shavings can be easily entrained with the airflow.

Another preferred embodiment provides the measure that the shavings removal channel extends above the motor and below the handgrip.

Use is made here of a configuration wherein the housing is slightly elevated to provide space for the passage of the shavings removal channel above the motor.

According to yet another preferred embodiment, the shavings removal channel extends between the motor and the planer knife roller cavity. The motor is here arranged in a higher position so as to provide space for the channel.

In all three embodiments the shavings removal channel preferably extends from the planer knife roller holder initially in tangential direction.

Other attractive preferred embodiments are stated in the remaining sub-claims.

The present invention will be elucidated hereinbelow with reference to the annexed figures, in which:

figure 1 shows a cross-sectional view of a first embodiment of the invention; figure 2 shows a cross-sectional view of a second embodiment of the invention ; and figure 3 shows a cross-sectional view of a third embodiment of the invention.

Figure 1 shows in the form of a longitudinal section a planer designated as a whole with 1. The planer comprises a housing 2 provided with a base plate 3. Recessed into the housing, in front of the base plate in the direction of movement, is a planer knife roller cavity 4 in which a planer knife roller 5 is placed. Planer knife roller 5 is mounted by means of a shaft 9 in bearings not shown in this figure. The planer knife roller holder is driven by an electric motor 6 placed in the housing by means of a toothed belt 7 which is trained round a pulley 8 arranged on the motor shaft and a pulley 10 arranged on the planer knife roller shaft.

At the front of the housing is arranged an adjustable base 11. The mechanism for adjusting the base is not shown because it is of no significance for the present invention.

The components described up to this point can all be found in prior art planers.

The invention provides for the arranging of a shavings removal channel 12 which extends through a handgrip 13 integrated into the housing. Handgrip 13 extends in the lengthwise direction of the planer, i. e. in the direction of movement of the planer.

Handgrip 13 is provided on its front side with an additional handgrip 14, wherein the handgrips are formed such that a user grips handgrip 13 with one hand and handgrip 14 with the other hand to enable good control and guiding of the planer.

The shavings removal channel 12 connects in tangential

direction onto planer knife roller cavity 4. The result hereof is that the air moving through the shavings removal channel is driven by the planer knife present on planer knife roller 5. The planer knife roller 5 is after all driven in rotation at high speed, wherein the cutting edge of a planer knife arranged in planer knife roller 5 protrudes out of the planer knife roller and drives the air. This air is driven substantially in tangential direction so that a tangential airflow is created around the planer knife roller holder and continues further in the shavings removal channel.

Shavings removal channel 12 is dimensioned such that the passage thereof does not in any case decrease in downstream direction. This avoids blockage as much as possible.

Although not shown in the figure, use can be made of the fan present on the motor shaft to strengthen the said airflow. A fan is after all necessary to cool electric motor 6, and this is usually arranged on the motor shaft. The airflow generated hereby can be used not only to cool motor 6 but to strengthen the airflow generated by the planer knife roller and being transmitted through shavings removal channel 12.

The embodiment further comprises a lever 15 for operating the switch 16. Use is made of lever 15 in order to place switch 16 as closely as possible to the electric motor, and thus reduce the length of the connecting wires as much as possible. It hereby becomes still possible to operate the switch with the index finger of the hand with which handgrip 13 is being grasped.

Shavings removal channel 12 debouches at its end in a connector 17 for a removal hose, such as a vacuum cleaner hose. It is hereby possible to discharge the shavings to a vacuum cleaner. It is possible instead to connect other discharge mechanisms, such as a collection container for

shavings or collection bag therefor.

Figure 2 shows another embodiment, wherein corresponding components are designated with the same reference numerals.

In this embodiment the removal channel 19 is not guided through a handgrip but is accommodated in the actual housing 2. Thus is achieved that the shavings removal channel 19 of the present embodiment can be given a considerably shorter construction than shavings removal channel 12 of the first embodiment. This has the further consequence that the passage thereof can take a smaller form.

As a result a connector 20 can be placed connecting directly onto shavings removal channel 19, onto which connector 20 can be connected a shavings collection container 21 which is provided with a connecting piece 23 that can be coupled to connector 20.

It is also possible in this configuration to make connector 20 suitable for connection to a vacuum cleaner hose.

In figure 3 is shown a configuration wherein shavings removal channel 24 branches directly from planer knife roller cavity 4 on the upper side thereof. Shavings removal channel 24 hereby has an exceptionally short length as it widens directly into a connector 20.

This configuration is chosen because it allows motor 6 to be placed above the planer knife roller. This enables an exceptionally short construction of the planer. This configuration moreover results in an exceptionally short embodiment of the shavings removal channel, so that the danger of blockage is extremely small.

Each of the three above stated embodiments can be combined with each of the options for shavings removal, such as a connection for a removal hose, such as a vacuum cleaner hose, a collection container or bag for shavings.